Improving Young People's Engagement with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
This paper, published to coincide with Science and Engineering Week 2013, presents evidence from research carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) to explore how to encourage further engagement in, and take-up of, STEM subjects. It discusses why STEM education is important and looks at how policymakers,…
Tunnelworks: Introductory Video
Tunnelworks is a series of teaching and learning resources linking mathematics and science to the Thames Tideway Tunnel project, a major new sewer that will help protect the River Thames from increasing pollution. Background to the project is given in this introductory video which explains when and how the sewer system, which still…
Maths and Science Education: the Supply of High Achievers at A Level
This paper, from the Department of Education (DfE), presented a comprehensive set of statistical analyses building up a picture of the production function for the supply of young people in England with good A levels in mathematics and science. In this way, the questions addressed are focused towards high attainers in these subjects,…
Supporting Scotland's STEM Education and Culture: Second Report
This report, published by the Science and Engineering Education Advisory Group in January 2012, addresses many of the challenges and opportunities arising in implementation of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) as it affects the delivery of STEM education and engagement. It examines the ways in which STEM education may…
Subject Progression from GCSE to AS Level and Continuation to A Level
This report, by the Department for Education, provides an analysis of the proportion of students taking GCSE and progressing to AS Level in the same subject (that is, progression rates), focussing on English Baccalaureate subject areas. The report then follows the same cohort through from AS to full A level achievement. Data…
Second Report of the Independent Review of Teachers' Standards
This report sets out the recommendations of an independent Review of Teachers’ Standards, chaired by Sally Coates. The review was launched by the Secretary of State in March 2011 with a remit to review the existing framework of professional standards for teachers. The Review Group comprises excellent teachers, head teachers…
Ready to Grow: Business Priorities for Education and Skills
This is the third education and skills survey published by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The survey provides an authoritative barometer of business opinion on key education and skills issues. It was conducted in February 2010, with responses received from 694 employers, collectively employing over 2.4 million people,…
Educating the Next Generation of Scientists
This report was published by the National Audit Office in 2010 and evaluates progress by the Department for Education in increasing take-up and achievement in maths and science up to age 18. It also reviews the extent to which specific programmes to raise the quality of school science facilities, recruit and retain science and maths…
STEM Careers Review 2010
This review of STEM careers, led by John Holman, was funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation in February 2010. The review covered provision of STEM careers education, information, advice and guidance in England. The report focused on secondary and further education, but recommended the need to commence careers related work from…
New Challenges, New Changes: Further Education and Skills System Reform Plan - Building a World-Class Skills System
This document was published by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills in December 2011, and sets out the programme of work required to take forward the reform of FE and skills system for adults aged 19 and over in England. The report was based on the principles set out in Skills for Sustainable Growth and took account…
Global Grant-Making: a Review of UK Foundations' Funding for International Development
This report published by the Nuffield Foundation in January 2012 provides an up-to-date picture of the scale of UK foundation resources devoted to international development. It also identifies how these resources are distributed across region and need, and how foundations approach international funding activities. Commissioned…
Evaluation of the Wellcome Trust Camden STEM Initiative
This report, published in March 2012 by the National Foundation for Educational Research, presents the findings of an evaluation of the Wellcome Trust’s Camden Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Initiative which provided funding to eight Camden schools to develop interdisciplinary projects. Projects…
Acquisition of Science Subject Knowledge and Pedagogy in Initial Teacher Training
Published by the Wellcome Trust in October 201, this report looks at how one-year postgraduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses in England and Wales support trainees’ acquisition of subject knowledge and topic specific pedagogy across the sciences. The study, which was the first of its kind to look into the acquisition…
Subject Choice In STEM: Factors Influencing Young People (Aged 14-19) in Education
The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Coordinating Centre (EPPICentre) was commissioned by the Wellcome Trust to undertake this systematic review of research about subject choice. The main aim of the review was to examine the factors that influence the STEM subject choices of young people (14-19 years) in education…
The Challenges of STEM Provision for Further Education Colleges
This report, published in October 2012, documents the activities and conclusions of a research project undertaken by the 157 Group, supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and in partnership with Association of Colleges (AoC). The 157 Group is a membership organisation that represents 27 large, regionally influential…
Your Days Are Numbered
This video, written and presented by Matt Parker and Timandra Harkness, considers the statistics of death. The only certainty is that everyone will die, but it is not known how or when this will happen. Based upon statistics, the odds of dying in particular ways are calculated and interpreted. The Normal Distribution curve is…
Animal Symmetry (Age 7-9)
Produced by ARKive this resource aimed at Key Stage Two is a collection of eight animal symmetry worksheets. Children are asked to complete the reflection of various animals to show that they exhibit reflective symmetry. Each sheet also includes an image of the animal and key facts about it. The resource uses four animals from…
Shelter for the World
This resource pack introduces the concepts of shelter and shelter deprivation around the world to students in Key Stage Two. It highlights the challenges people face in their daily lives when their homes do not provide adequate shelter. It linked to the curriculum areas of design and technology, geography and PSHE and promotes thinking…
Module 6: Aiming Higher
Module 6 of the STEM Projects Toolkit gives information on the many opportunities that students can take to present their projects in STEM competitions and fairs. The resource describes the practical steps to be taken to make a project ready for a competition or fair, including describing what the judges would be looking for. Contents 6.1…
Module 5: From the Classroom to the STEM Fair
Module 5 of the STEM Projects Toolkit explains the steps that can be taken between students carrying out projects in their own classes and presenting a project at a STEM competition or fair. Although this can be a daunting prospect, it can give students a positive experience of presenting themselves and their work professionally…
Module 4: Characteristics of Good Project Work
This module of the STEM Projects Toolkit explains what a good project provides for students, encouraging them to develop independent learning skills and reflective practice. This part of the toolkit provides the first practical steps for teachers and technicians in conceiving and developing a STEM project. Contents 4.1 What is…
Module 3: Moving From Teacher-led to Student-led Lessons and Projects
This module of the STEM Projects Toolkit considers how to move from traditional teacher-led individual lessons to student-designed and student-led inquiry based lessons and projects. The emphasis is on guiding students and encouraging them to explore and research topics, actively participate in the learning process, collaborate and…
Module 2: Models of Student-centred Inquiry
This module, from the STEM Projects Toolkit, considers the use of the inquiry-based approach in everyday teaching of STEM subjects, encouraging students to use initiative and make independent decisions. The resource compares different types of Inquiry Based Learning and includes approaches for differentiation and inclusion. Contents 2.1…
Module 1: Getting Started With STEM Inquiry Work
This module introduces the STEM Projects Toolkit, its background and its goals. A schematic diagram shows the contents of the resource pack, showing the pathways which teachers and technicians can use to access information and enrich lessons. The resource builds on the successes of the CREST Awards, a formal project award scheme,…
Take a Chance
This activity considers the probability of events happening and involves calculating simple probabilities and expressing them in terms of fractions and words. Children consider the probability of real events. They then work out the chance of choosing a certain sweet from a bag and record this as a fraction. This can be extended…
Chance Factor
This activity uses every day scenarios, as well as the chance of inheriting a genetic disorder, as the context for practicing how to: • calculate simple probabilities and express them in terms of fractions, decimals and words • compare different probabilities with one another • consider the probability of real…
5/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Teacher guidance
Farming Counts
A selection of resources from Farming & Countryside Education (FACE) linked to mathematics at Key Stage Two. Each resource is either a worded problem or an activity related to the countryside. They can be easily fitted into mathematics lessons or given for homework after teaching the topics in class. The areas covered are: •…
Biology - Statistical Tests in Medicine
From the Integrating Mathematical Problem Solving project by Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI), this activity for post-16 students demonstrates that if a link is suspected between a risk factor and an illness, statistical methods can be used to test whether such a link exists. Topic areas covered are: • Statistical…
Physics - Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
From the Integrating Mathematical Problem Solving project by MEI, this series of activities explores how mechanical oscillations are important in many areas of everyday life. Sometimes they are useful, for example the motion of the suspension on a car, sometimes they are fun, for example a fairground 'pirate ship' and sometimes…
Physics - Keeping the Coffee Warm
From the Integrating Mathematical Problem Solving project by Mathematics for Education and Industry (MEI), this activity for post-16 students demonstrates that coffee cools gradually because it is hotter than room temperature and heat is lost to the room. Mixing the coffee with milk also cools it but this effect is instant. Topic…
Chemistry - pH
From the Integrating Mathematical Problem Solving project by Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI), this activity for post-16 students demonstrates that the acidity of a solution depends on the number of hydrogen ions per litre; the number of hydrogen ions per litre varies so much that a logarithmic scale is used. Topic areas…
Green Fairgrounds
The RA3 project, provided by the Centre for Science Education, aims to bring parents together with their children and teachers to explore the worlds of science, technology, engineering and maths. This investigation helps to develop an awareness of green power by designing and making a new fairground ride which is self-powered.…
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